Door Hanger Marketing: Everything You Need to Know

You’re always hearing about the latest digital marketing trends and the newest ways to land in your audience’s inboxes, but have you considered advertising right on their door handle?

Stay with me here. 

I’m talking about door hanger marketing. Digital strategies are awesome, but sometimes you need to step out of the box and try something new. Door hanger marketing is an effective, affordable addition to your marketing efforts. Unfortunately, a lot of businesses have written it off as old-school and archaic, but that’s about to change.

In this blog, I’ll give you a comprehensive breakdown of what door hanger marketing is, the benefits of implementing it into your business, and door hanger marketing ideas to help you get started and stand out from the competition.

Simply put, it’s a type of offline marketing (similar to direct mail) where businesses distribute printed advertisements and hang them on the door handles of potential clients.

Think of it as an email marketing campaign that came to life – except instead of emails delivered to an inbox, it’s physical ads delivered to your customer’s door handle.

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Now, while I didn’t need a tree removed, this strategy did force me to pay attention to an ad that I would’ve otherwise ignored if it landed in my inbox or popped up on social media.

This is why these hangers are so effective, but you’re probably wondering if the benefits are worth it. Let’s take a look.

Why Is Door Hanger Marketing Beneficial?

Many businesses dismiss door hanger marketing and opt for digital marketing strategies. Maybe you’re one of them, and we can’t blame you. There’s a lack of info out there about how beneficial this offline marketing practice is, but let’s break down the perks:

1. Precision

Door hanger marketing offers precision that rivals most digital strategies. You can focus on specific geographical areas — down to individual neighborhoods and streets — with tailored messaging that speaks directly to your audience.

This level of customization makes door hangers an excellent option for local businesses like real estate agents, restaurants, landscaping services, and others looking to connect with nearby customers in a personal, out-of-the-box way.

2. Less Competitive

How many promotional emails have you gotten today?

Now, how many door hangers have you received?

Chances are your inbox is bursting at the seams, but your door handle is wide open, just waiting for a savvy business to drop in with an engaging ad.

The point is that not many businesses opt for door hangers, so you won’t be battling for people’s attention like you would on oversaturated mediums such as social media, email, and text inboxes.

If someone uses their door, there is a 100% chance that they’ll see your ad. The same can’t be said for digital ad options. Less competition = greater impact.

3. Impactful

The benefits above are awesome, but they’re nearly useless if the ads themselves don’t work. So, what does the door hanger marketing response rate look like?

Let’s say you order 500 door hangers from VistaPrint. At their current pricing, each door hanger will run you .14 cents. With a 2% response rate, the average cost to acquire a customer in this scenario comes to $7.

Now on the other hand, the average cost to acquire a customer with email marketing ranges from $287-$510, and the average for pay-per-click marketing costs between $290-$802.

When you think of it like that, $7 doesn’t seem too bad! In fact, it’s pretty affordable and reveals the impact that this marketing tactic can have when done right. Plus, if you use our door hanger marketing tips found below, the response rate can skyrocket.

Here’s the thing: We’re not knocking digital marketing. You absolutely should continue to run digital campaigns and nurture your audience across online platforms. However, it’s worth incorporating this direct tactic to see how your audience responds. Who knows? It could be something that consistently lands you new customers.

Door Hanger Marketing Ideas

If you want to bring your door hangers to life, you need to get creative. We’ve all seen bland ads, and nothing gets tossed aside faster than print ads that lack engaging imagery, clear copy, and a tempting offer.

The examples below check all those boxes so use the following door hangers as your launching point. And of course, don’t be afraid to think outside the box and get creative with it!

1. Business Card Insert

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This door hanger is simple and clean while still delivering all the important information a customer will look for at first glance. 

Obviously, the star of the show is the cutout designed to hold a business card. This is helpful because your customers don’t have to keep the entire hanger. A business card is easier to store long-term if they need to. Plus, it contains your business’s info, so you can rest easy knowing they have all the details needed to contact you when they’re ready. 

The highlights:

• Quality design
• Unique delivery of key information (business card)
• Clear purpose and contact method
• Interesting hanger shape

2. QR Code CTA

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What’s the first thing you see when you glance at this door hanger? Chances are it’s the name of the company or the CTA (“Scan to Book”). Both of these details are crucial to have front and center if you want your door hanger to be effective (especially if you want to boost your response rate).

The main takeaway from this example is the use of QR codes in place of a link or phone number. This strategy leverages a digital tool to make it even easier for your prospects to take the next step with your business.

The highlights:

• Bold, concise copy
• Transparent service offerings
• Large, easy-to-find CTA

3. Creative Designs

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In the example above, the door hanger takes a different angle by asking for referrals instead of trying to make a sale. But don’t be fooled — although you’re not outright asking people to engage with your business, you can still gather a lot of potential customers from this approach.

Asking for referrals can be awkward, but this door hanger takes the pressure off and captures customers’ attention more than an email or text. Consider compiling a list of happy customers and use this strategy to see how it measures up against the other ways you collect referrals.

The highlights:

• Fun, vibrant graphics
• Clever yet clear copy
• Shows appreciation for the customer

4. Value Proposition

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A huge part of capturing new contacts and turning them into customers is providing value. The sooner you do that, the more likely people are to take the next step with your business. This applies to door hangers too, so consider giving something to your potential customers right away like in the example above.

This hanger doesn’t ask someone to fill out a form or make a call before providing insight that matters. Instead, it offers expertise that matters without requesting something first.

Not only is this a helpful gesture and a great first impression, but the details included above also make the person aware of why they need this business’s services. It’s a win-win!

The highlights:

• Double-sided to fit more information
• Valuable insight is front and center

5. Perforated Edge

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The example above does a great job using branded design to provide information that potential customers want to know (i.e. services, specialized services, contact details and more) without crowding out other elements.

The best part, however, is the coupon that detaches from the bottom. It’s an enticing touch that gives your audience the boost they need to reach out.

The highlights:

• Quality design
• Perforated edge
• Coupon included

6. Simple Layout

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When it comes to door hangers, less can be more! The hanger in this image demonstrates a simple design that still contains all the necessary information a potential customer may need. Plus, they make it easy to quickly understand what their business is at first glance.

If you can communicate everything in fewer words and images, then go for it! Doing so will keep your audience from feeling overwhelmed or distracted by unnecessary information.

The highlights:

• Clear, direct messaging
• Not crowded with copy or design elements

7. Offer-first messaging

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One way to catch someone’s eye is leading with a deal. I mean, who doesn’t love a good discount?

This door hanger makes its offer the first thing a person will see, and once someone realizes they can get something for free or at a discount, they’ll be more inclined to read the rest of your door hanger. So, whip up a great offer and display it prominently on your design with a CTA close by.

The highlights:

• Visible, valuable offer
• Creates urgency
• Clear CTA

Door Hanger Marketing Tips for Small Businesses

The best door hangers are ones that catch your audience’s attention and make it easy for them to take action. The following four tips will help you do just that!

• Don’t get too wordy: It can be tempting to use the space on your door hanger to cram in as many services, testimonials, deals, and details as possible, but it’s not worth it. Keep your copy simple and only include the information your customers need to take action.
• Have a professional design: If you don’t have a quality design, you could push customers away before they even learn what you have to offer. Take the time to make sure your design looks polished and professional. It will help you make a great first impression.
• Let your CTA take center stage: Ultimately, the most important part of door hanger marketing is getting people to take action. That’s why your CTA — whether it’s a link, phone number, or QR code — should be easy to find.
• Include your logo: Don’t forget to include the calling card of your business, also known as your logo! You want people to recognize your brand no matter where they see you next, and your logo is one of the best ways to accomplish that.
  

Door hanger marketing for your small business

If you’re looking to catch your target audience’s attention in a fresh, affordable, and creative way, door hangers are your answer. And using the door hanger marketing tips in this blog is a great way to get started.

Looking for more ways to equip your business for greater growth? Check out our guide below to discover the top tools you need to modernize and level up your business.